When a pregnant woman drinks an alcoholic drink, alcohol passes from her blood through the placenta and umbilical cord to her unborn child. The developing baby cannot process alcohol efficiently and his or her liver is not fully mature until the later stages of pregnancy. If you drink alcohol when you are pregnant, you make your baby have a drink too. The amount or type of liquor safe to drink during pregnancy is unclear.
The Effects of Alcohol in Pregnancy
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth. It can also cause growth problems and damage to the developing baby's brain and central nervous system. A wide variety of lifelong birth defects, collectively known as foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), may result from expectant mothers drinking excessively. Such problems include:
- facial and skull deformities
- heart or kidney problems
- skeletal abnormalities
- epilepsy
- vision or hearing difficulties
- restricted growth
- low body-weight
- below-average height
- delayed speech and language development
- learning difficulties
- behavioural problems
- hyperactivity or a short attention span
- memory problems
According to FamilyDoctor.org, drinking alcohol in pregnancy is the leading cause of birth defects in the United States. Binge drinking or drinking more than three drinks in one go is very dangerous because it increases your blood alcohol level quickly. The more you drink during pregnancy, the greater the risk to your baby. Foetal alcohol syndrome is entirely preventable by avoiding alcohol completely during pregnancy.
Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the UK Department of Health both advise pregnant women and women who are trying to conceive to abstain from drinking alcohol entirely. However, if you are going to drink, drink no more than 1 or 2 units of alcohol no more than once or twice a week and never binge drink or get drunk. One unit of alcohol is equal to:
- half a pint of beer, lager or cider at 3.5% ABV (alcohol by volume), or
- 175 ml glass of wine at 11.5 % ABV, or
- 25 ml measure of spirit, such as whisky or vodka at 40% ABV
Although alcohol can be dangerous for the developing baby at any stage during pregnancy, it is particularly important to avoid alcohol during the first three months of gestation because of the increased risk of miscarriage during this time. If there is a risk of pregnancy occurring, be cautious about your alcohol consumption as you may not know you are pregnant until you are several weeks into your pregnancy.
The best thing to do is to avoid alcohol completely if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Keep to non-alcoholic drinks that you enjoy when socialising with friends. If you do decide to have a drink, sip it slowly and make it last. Ignore peer-pressure to drink alcohol – your baby's health and wellbeing is much more important. If you are pregnant and can't stop drinking alcohol, see your doctor who may be able to help you and your baby.
For more information about food and drink safety during pregnancy, readers may be interested in Drinks Women Should Avoid During Pregnancy, Which Foods Should Women Avoid During Pregnancy? and How to Avoid Listeria Infection During Pregnancy.
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)" (Accessed 8th March 2011).
Department of Health. "The Pregnancy Book" (Accessed 8th March 2010).
FamilyDoctor.org. "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome" (Accessed 8th March 2010).
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sharon Kirby - Sharon is a freelance health writer and contributes to various print and online publications. Writing credits include Nursing Times, Good ...
